Download Name of Unit: - London Diocesan Board for Schools

What Is Buddhism?
Buddhism
Name of Unit: What is Buddhism?
Faith: Buddhism
Key Stage in which this unit should be taught: KS1/2
Recommended Year Group (if specified:)
Previous Learning:
Awareness of world religions – this is the first Buddhism unit to be taught
AT1 Learning About Religion
AT2 Learning From Religion
Main Focus: Beliefs, teachings and sources
Main Focus: Values and Commitments
What this unit teaches:
Who Siddhartha was and the circumstances that led to him becoming Buddha and achieving enlightenment.
Introduction to Buddhist virtues and beliefs using stories that Buddha told.
Key RE Vocabulary:
Cross-Curricular Links:
Buddhism
Cruelty
Music: Composing;
Buddha
Values
Literacy: Writing letters, poems, debating;
Suffering
Drama: Role play, hot seating;
Greed
Art and Design & DT: Origami, painting, collage, drawing, board game;
Happiness
PE: Dance;
Sacrifice
PSHE: Class discussions;
Enlightenment
Computing: video, social media (twitter, vlogging)
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development:
Sensitivities:
Reflecting on other world faiths;
Discussions about suffering and cruelty to animals.
Creating kindness charters;
Reflecting on behaviour and consequences.
Possible Further Thinking and Extension Activities:
Exploring other stories from Buddhism.
Thinking about how the stories are similar / different to those in other
religions.
Future Learning:
Unit 2 – What Does It Mean To Be a Buddhist?
How Buddhists live their lives through their faith. How the teachings of Buddhism are arranged through the eight-fold path, four noble truths, symbols and
five precepts. Children will learn about the Sangha (Buddhist community) and Dharma (ultimate truth.)
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 1
Pupils should:
AT1 - KS1:
Remember a religious
story from Buddhism.
KS2:
Describe what a Buddhist
might learn from the
religious story of
Siddhartha.
Buddhism
AT1


AT2 - KS1:
Talk about things that
happen to me.
KS2:
Ask questions about the
meaning and purpose of
life.
AT2
Suggested Teaching Activities
Who is Buddha?
How did Siddhartha become Buddha?
Buddha.
Show the Buddhist symbol of the Buddhist Wheel and explain to the
pupils that today we will be beginning to learn about another religion of
the world.
Ask if any pupils recognise the symbol and know what the religion is?
Buddhism.
Share the story of Siddhartha using the video clip or read from Prince
Siddhartha: The Story of Buddha Paperback by Jonathan Landaw.
Before sharing the part of the story where Siddhartha leaves the palace;
after seeing 4 things Siddhartha changed his life completely. What do you
think those things were?
Use props to retell the story of Siddhartha.

Key Questions: (Opportunities for discussions / debates)
 Who is Buddha?
 What is Buddha?
 Is Buddha a God?
 How is Buddha the same or different to God?
 Why was Buddha given his name? What does it mean?
 What did Buddha find was the meaning of life?
 What made Siddhartha change his lifestyle?

Using Lego to build Siddhartha’s palace and role play the story.


Write a playscript for the story of Siddhartha.
VLOG of Siddhartha’s journey / tweets about each day of Siddhartha’s
Points To Note
Resources:
The Story of Siddhartha:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/educatio
n/clips/zqwfgk7
Prince Siddhartha: The Story of
Buddha
by Jonathan Landaw,
Paperback.
Sensitivities:
Suffering is likely to come up in
conversation;
E-safety with VLOGging and
tweeting
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Buddhism
AT1
AT2
Journey.
Suggested Teaching Activities
Points To Note
Recall the four sights that Siddhartha saw by drawing a story map.


Reflections:
Create a poster about what is important in your life.
Create a feelings graph for each part of the story.
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 2
Pupils should:
AT1 - KS1:
I can remember a
religious story from
Buddhism.
KS2:
I can describe what a
Buddhist might learn
from a Buddhist religious
story.
Buddhism
AT1
AT2




What does truth mean? Explain the four noble truths:
1) Look back at the week’s news – where have you seen suffering in the
world, local community and our own lives?
Make a collage from newspapers or video montage with appropriate news
pictures and appropriate music to reflect the suffering happening in the
world.
2) What does it mean to be greedy? What is a craving?
What sorts of things do you crave? What do you do if you don’t get these
things?
Do all children have the same cravings over the world?
3) Are material things the most important things in the world?
Make a poster about things that we could do to stop suffering.
Add a part to the newspaper collage / video montage.
4) What do Buddhists believe will happen if they follow the ‘middle way’?

Fold paper in half – on one side list kinds of suffering and on the other
write causes of suffering.
AT2 - KS1:
Talk about things that
happen to them.
KS2:
Ask questions about the
meaning and purpose of
life.

Suggested Teaching Activities
What Does the Word Suffering Mean?
Have you ever suffered?
4 noble truths
Key Questions: (Opportunities for discussions / debates)
What does suffering mean?
Is suffering the same for everyone around the world?
Can all the problems in the world ever be solved?
What do other religions say about the cause of suffering and the meaning
of life?
Points To Note
Resources:
Buddhism KS2.
ISBN 0-9536928-0-8
‘Newsround’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsrou
nd
Sensitivities:
Discussions about suffering and
bereavement.
Be sensitive towards pupils’
individual and personal
situations and experiences.
Use the Four Noble Truths to create flow charts of suffering and the
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Buddhism
AT1
AT2
causes.
Suggested Teaching Activities
Points To Note

Create a doctor’s consultation sheet e.g. diagnosis, explanation, cure and
treatment.

Reflections:
Create a ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ thinking map.
Make a collage of what makes different people happy.
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 3
Pupils should:
AT1 - KS1:
Remember a Buddhist
story.
Buddhism
AT1
AT2



KS2:
Describe what a Buddhist
might learn from a
Buddhist story.
AT2 - KS1:
Link things that are
important to them and
other people with the
way they think and
behave.
KS2:
Ask questions about the
moral decisions they and
others make and suggest
what might happen as a
result of different
decisions;
Make links between the
beliefs and teachings of
different religious groups
Key Questions: (opportunities for discussions / debates)
 Did the monkey do the right thing?
 What is the moral of this story?
 What have you learnt from this story?
 What has it made you think about?
 What would Buddha say about the human king?
 What does sacrifice mean?
 When have you made a sacrifice?
 What happened?
 What would have happened if you had not made the sacrifice?
 How can we show courage in our lives?
Points To Note
Resources:
The story of ‘The Monkey
King’
http://www.clearvision.org/Schools/Students/Ag
es-4-7.aspx
‘The Monkey King and Other
Stories’ DVD,
The Clearvision Trust
Sensitivities:
Discussions about sacrifice
Use pictures or props to retell the story this can either be verbal or a
written response.


Suggested Teaching Activities
What Does the Word Sacrifice Mean?
Have You Ever Made a Sacrifice?
The story of ‘The Monkey King’
Share the story of ‘The Monkey King’.

Role play the story. Use drama techniques such as hot-seating or freeze
frame to reflect on how different characters are feeling at different points
in the story.

Examples of animals making sacrifices for others, e.g. ants
Retell / write the story with different animals.

Dance / shadow play – reflect on the monkey’s emotions throughout the
story.
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
and show how they are
connected to believers’
lives.
Buddhism
AT1
AT2


Suggested Teaching Activities
Points To Note
Reflections:
Decision alley – what would you say to the monkey before he decided to
sacrifice himself?
Can the pupils think of where else they have heard about sacrifice?
Are there stories about sacrifice in other religions?
What similarities / differences are there here between Buddhism and
Christianity?
What does the example of sacrifice teach believers of the faith in which
they come from?
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 4
Pupils should:
AT1 - KS1:
Describe what a Buddhist
might learn from the
Buddhist story of
Siddhartha and The Swan.
Buddhism
AT1

Make links between the
teachings of Buddhism
and Christianity and
show how they guide
how Buddhists and
Christians should try to
live their lives.
AT2 - KS1:
Talk about things that
happen to them.

Role play the story.
Use drama techniques such as hot-seating or freeze frame to reflect on
how their character is feeling at different points in the story.

Make a poster about caring for animals and living things or showing things
that are cruel about the world today.

Make a poster of kindness in your life.

Create a class kindness charter.

Rap about kindness.

Make a class swan using hand cut outs as feathers with kindness promises
written on.

Make origami swans with kindness tips written on.


Suggested Teaching Activities
What is Kindness and How Can It Be Shown
According To Buddhist Teachings?
Siddhartha and the Swan
Share the story of ‘Siddhartha and the Swan.’

KS2:
Understand how listening
to a religious story about
kindness might teach a
believer to be.
KS2:
AT2

Points To Note
Resources:
The story of ‘Siddhartha and
the Swan’
http://www.clearvision.org/Schools/Students/Ag
es-4-7/story-Siddharthaswan.aspx
‘The Monkey King and Other
Stories’ DVD,
The Clearvision Trust.
https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=u_niWfQEGvk
Sensitivities:
Cruelty to animals.
Reflections:
Whilst listening to classical music: ‘The Swan’ from ‘The Carnival of the
Animals’ by Saint-Saens, on a reflection of a swan, write how it has made
you reflect on your life and what you have learnt from the story.
Key Questions: (opportunities for discussions / debates)
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Suggest what might
happen if someone
chooses to behave in the
way religious teaching
suggests or to ignore that
teaching.
Ask questions about the
meaning and purpose of
life.
Buddhism
AT1
AT2











Suggested Teaching Activities
Where is the right and wrong in this story?
What would you have done the same / differently?
When was the last time that you showed an act of random
kindness? What did you do?
How did it make you feel?
Why is this story important to Buddhists?
What have you learnt from this story?
What has this story made you think about? How has it made
you think about how you act?
Are the teachings from this story similar to those from any
other faiths? Which ones?
What happened in the story because kindness was shown?
How would the ending of the story have been if kindness was
not shown?
What does this suggest in life about choosing to ignore /
follow religious teachings?
Points To Note
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 5
Pupils should:
AT1 - KS1:
Describe what a believer
might learn from the
Buddhist story of ‘The
King and the Elephant.’
KS2:
Explain how Buddhist
teaching is similar to that
of other religious groups
and how it influences
how people of faith try
to live their life.
AT2 - KS1:
Think about what
influences me about the
way I try to behave.
KS2:
Think about how a
person does or does not
act in a particular
situation and how faith
may have influenced
them.
Buddhism
AT1
AT2
Suggested Teaching Activities
How does Buddhism set an example for others?
How can you set a good example for others?
How can we use our school values to set a good example for others?
The story of ‘The King’s Elephant’
Share the story of ‘The King’s Elephant’.


Think about how we could set a good example for another (younger) year
group – make an advice video using iMovie or similar programme.

Look at school values. Which are most important? Should anything be
added or taken away?


Activities:
Create a colour / mood wheel to reflect the elephant’s mood throughout
the story.


Create a mood graph / series of mood paintings for the elephant
throughout the story.


Compose a piece of music to reflect the elephant’s mood at the beginning
and end of the story.

Write a recipe for being a good person.

Key Questions: (opportunities for discussions / debates)
 What are the values that Buddhists can learn from this?
 How are these similar to our school values? (Distinctively
Christian values)
 What do other religions say about being a good role-model or

Points To Note
Resources:
The story of ‘The King’s
Elephant’
http://www.clearvision.org/Schools/Students/Ag
es-4-7/story-of-Kingselephant.aspx
‘The Monkey King and Other
Stories’ DVD,
The Clearvision Trust
Good Deed Feed:
Metro newspaper
‘Russell Howard’s Good News’
BBC3
Sensitivities:
Issues around bullying and
playground behaviour;
Cruelty to animals.
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Buddhism
AT1
AT2
Suggested Teaching Activities





person?
What does it mean to set a good example?
When have you set a good example?
Who did you set the good example for?
Did it help them change their behaviour? How?
Points To Note
Reflections:
How are you a good role model?
What have you done this week to be a good role model?
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 6
Pupils should:
AT1 - KS1:
Reflect on Buddhist
stories that they have
heard and describe what
Buddhists learn from
them about how to live
in the world.
KS2:
Suggest reasons for
Buddhist beliefs about
enlightenment and how
religious sources shape
these beliefs.
AT2 - KS1:
Think of an example
where something that is
important to me has
influenced the way I have
thought and behaved.
KS2:
Ask questions about
things that are important
to them and other
people and understand
Buddhism
AT1
AT2
Suggested Teaching Activities
What do Buddhists believe about responding to
the world around them?
Is being reflective important?
Key Questions: (opportunities for discussions / debates)
 How do the noble truths help Buddhists to live their lives?
 What have you learnt about Buddhism that has interested you
most / made you reflect on how you live your life?




Make a poster about Buddha’s life.


Write questions that you would want to ask someone who practices
Buddhism.


Invite a Buddhist visitor into school for the children to ask their questions.


Use questions to interview a partner in the class and film using iPads /
videos.


Make a non-fiction book about Buddhism.


In pairs create an interview with Siddhartha about his life and the start of
Buddhism.

Write a letter as Siddhartha (or to) about what he (they) had learnt and
advice to others about how to live the middle path.

Create a board game to reach enlightenment.
Points To Note
Assessment Lesson
Resources:
Teaching RE, Buddhism 5-11
ISBN 1 85100 082 8
Reflections:
London Diocesan Board for Schools
What Is Buddhism?
Learning Objectives
how religious views
impact on the lives of
followers of a religion.
Buddhism
AT1
AT2

Suggested Teaching Activities
Why was a prince chosen to become Buddha rather than an ordinary
person?
If Buddha was alive today what things would he have given up?
Is it important in life today to be reflective?
Why?
When do you reflect? / When do you have opportunities for reflection?
Does reflection help you? How?
Points To Note
London Diocesan Board for Schools